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Electromagnetic Waves-

We are surrounded by waves we can see and hear, from ocean waves to sound waves. A wave shows the transfer of energy, from the wind that starts an ocean wave to the sound that moves through the air to your ear drum. Waves that pass through a physical object or medium are called mechanical waves. Unlike mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves do not need a medium to travel or propagate. Electric and magnetic fields both produce vibrations and, together, the two types of energy create electromagnetic waves.

Waves take different shapes, but electromagnetic waves all have a snake-like shape which makes them transverse waves. Transverse waves are measured by their height, or amplitude, and by their wavelength, or the distance between the highest point of one wave, the crest, to the crest of the next wave. The lowest point of a wave is called a trough. Trough to trough can be measured, too. When analyzing an electromagnetic wave, both the amplitude and distance between waves is measured.

We measure both the amplitude, or height of a wave (a), and the distance between waves (b).

One whole wave, from crest to crest, or trough to trough, is called a cycle. The number of cycles that occur per second is the wave's frequency. In honor of Heinrich Hertz, we measure frequency in hertz or Hz.

We are surrounded by waves we can see and hear, from ocean waves to sound waves. A wave shows the transfer of energy, from the wind that starts an ocean wave to the sound that moves through the air to your ear drum. Waves that pass through a physical object or medium are called mechanical waves. Unlike mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves do not need a medium to travel or propagate. Electric and magnetic fields both produce vibrations and, together, the two types of energy create electromagnetic waves.

Waves take different shapes, but electromagnetic waves all have a snake-like shape which makes them transverse waves. Transverse waves are measured by their height, or amplitude, and by their wavelength, or the distance between the highest point of one wave, the crest, to the crest of the next wave. The lowest point of a wave is called a trough. Trough to trough can be measured, too. When analyzing an electromagnetic wave, both the amplitude and distance between waves is measured.

We measure both the amplitude, or height of a wave (a), and the distance between waves (b).

One whole wave, from crest to crest, or trough to trough, is called a cycle. The number of cycles that occur per second is the wave's frequency. In honor of Heinrich Hertz, we measure frequency in hertz or Hz.